Improvement in the manner of constructing berths for vessels



UNITED STATES- PATENT OEricE.

HARMON KING, OF NFV YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANNER 0F CONSTRUCTING BERTHS FOR VESSELS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 2,240, dated September 4, 184i.

city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Construction of a Vessels Berth, by means of which improvement a good and proper berth can be readily and expeditiously adapted for use upon that which appears to be and is used for an ordinary7 seat or locker; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull and exact description of the same, reference being had to the drawings hereto annexed, and to the letters marked thereon.

In all the gures the same letters refer to the same or similar parts.

My improved vessels berth is intended for vessels of all kind.

Figures l and 2 are perspective outlines of said berths as constructed ina small cabin of one berths length only. Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the same. A are bulk-heads. B is the deck, C the ceiling, and D the floor. E is a berth of the common and well-known construction, the space under which, as represented in the said figures, on account of the curvature of the ceiling, is insufficient for a second berth but serves to form the locker F. G is the front of the seat or locker, which is usually constructed before and under the aforesaid berth E and locker F. Ot' the said seat or locker G the top or cover H, of which Fig. 3 is a horizontal projection, serves as the bed or bottom of the improved berth. Fig. 4 is a view of the under side of the said top or cover H, and Fig. 5 a longitudinal section of the said seat or locker G I-I.

The nature of my invention consists in applying and fastening toa movable berthfront J, Figs. l, 2, and 6, near each of its extremities, a metal arm a, which said metal arms pass through the top or cover H of the seat or locker in parallel holes c, Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6, made for this purpose at right angles to the front of the said seat or locker, and are fastened to and turn upon hinges or rule-joints m, Figs. 6 and S,within the said seat orlocker,so that they, and with them the berth-front, may move backward and forward in the aforesaid armholes c. The hinges or rule-joints are at equal heights from the iioor in a line parallel to the front G of the seat or locker. Vhen the berth-front is forward, as J', Figs. 2 and 6, the improved berth will be ready for use, and the metal arms a will be, from the hinges or rule-joints upward, parallel or nearly parallel to the front G of the seat or locker and close to the front extremity of the armholes c. Immediately above the top or cover H the said arms are equally bent outward at right angles or at right angles nearly, and thus extending, say, six inches, more or less, then resume their former direction, so that the berthfront J will be perpendicular to the floor of the cabin. berth-front J and the dimensions of the said metal arms a and the hinges or rule-joints m may be readily determined by any skillful carpenter or machinist. It will generally be convenient to insert within the said seat or locker a brace n, on which to fasten the said hinges or rule-joints m.

Vhen the berth-front, fastened to the metal arms, as aforssaid, is pushed backward, as J, Figs. l and 6, it will be prevented from injuring the wood or paint of the berth-partition K by the metal arms resting against the back of the aforesaid armholes, the length of the said armholes being for this purpose so limited and determined, and it is plain that 4 the said berth-front will be inclined and form an interior acute angle with the top of the seat or locker, and that this angle will vary according to the length of the parts of the said metal arms within the seat or locker, or according to the breadth of the said berth-front. It will generally be best to construct the said parts of the said metal arms within the seat or locker as long as may be, so that the angle made by the said berth-front, as aforesaid, may be as great as possible, the width of the berth-front remaining the same; but sometimes it will have to be determined by other circumstances, as in the case represented in the drawings, in which it is required, when the berth-front is pushed backward, as aforesaid,

to have ready and convenient access to both the locker F and the locker in the seat GH, the lid or cover of which last-mentioned locker being s, and it may be noted, moreover, that the main use of the aforesaid bends near the middle of the metal arms is to extend the width of the said improved berth, and that consequently the said bends will admit of variation in length as well as direction. From The proper fastenings of the seat or locker, and as close to it as may be` Without actual contact.

To prevent the metal arms from Wearing" the sides of the aforesaid armholes c; provision is made by fixing to the under side of the top or cover H in any convenient waymetal castings e or strips of metal e,^1 `ig.*4f,` so as to extend on all sides over the space of: the said armholes, say one-eighth 'of an inch,

more or less. Sections ofthe said castings'or strips of metal are represented in Figs..5 and 6.

The covers c, Fig. 3, to the aforesaid armholes should be equal in Width toV the: armholes themselves, and as long as rnaybe,:leav` ing room c c for the passage of the aforesaid metal arms. c and c represent'thesaid covers with the said opening adjacent' when the berth-front isin the position represented in Fig. l, and c and c when the berth-front is as in Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal-section of the said covers. The aforesaid metal castings or strips of metal e e will .afford to the said covers a suitable and vproper rest. The said covers having' a handle inserted tlush with their top, and fitting exactly the said armholes (whether the berth-front'be as in Fig. l or as in Fig. 2) combine, with the parts heretofore described, to present elegance with utility, to serve, as heretofore, for all the purposes of the ordinary seat or locker, or to yform a good and proper berth peculiarly acceptable to those who are liable to seasickness.

It may be here mentioned that when the seat G H is to be used also for the purposes of a locker it will be Well to divide it by means ofthe partitions L L into three separate parts,

thus preventing the aforesaid metal arms `but may be usefully and advantageously construeted any number of them together in steamboats or other vessels in which eXtra Aberthr00m is desirable, and it is also plain .that-they need not the ordinary berths, hereinbefore described, before and under which to be constructed, but that they may be constructed and used equally Wellin front of any bulkhead, and' that even the aforesaid seat Or locker itself may be separate and portable. kI do not claim as my invention any of the separate parts of the vessels berth hereinbe fore described; but

Wfhatl do claim as my invention, and Wish to secureby Letters- Patent, is-

The combination of the movable berth-front aforesaid with the metal arms, hinges or rulexjoints, armholes, covers, &c., in the manner herein described, or in any other substantially the same, so that a good and proper berth may be readilyand expeditiously adapted for use upon that which appears to be and is usedfor 'an ordinary seat or locker.

I-IARMON KING. .Witnesses JOHN W. THOMSON, J. I-I. DOUGHTY. 

